Been reading BOTNS since 2021. It’s certainly one of the most amazing albeit difficult work of Science fiction/fantasy ever written. I’m glad there appears to be a growing interest in Wolfe throughout the years.
The first time I read it I couldn't even tell what genre it was. Also it's pretty difficult for a non-native speaker but it has become my favorite book.
As a fellow Catholic discovering Wolfe is like lifting the veil to reality itself. Short Sun is his best work when you get there. The only two books I hold up with Wolfe are Moby Dick and Paradise Lost. Ave Maria
The terms used by Gene Wolfe are explained in the "Lexicon Urthus" by Michael Andre-Driussi. It is not just Old English, but also from other languages. For example the term "Urth" is used to describe the earth. But Urth is also a deity of destiny from Scandinavian mythology, representing the past. "asimi" originally means silver, but is used as silver-coin in the books. It is amazing how much you can learn by reading the Solar Cycle.
I sincerely hope that when you finish BOTNS you also read Urth of the New Sun. It’s the book that completes Severians journey, and it also happens to be the most Catholic one in the series. (Also Wolfe’s historical time travel novel Pirate Freedom is really in conversation with BOTNS and is worth a read too)
My favourite series of all time. I'm currently waiting for my folio society copy to arrive and start my third read through! Finishing long and short son series' first and I can't wait to dive in again with even more perspective. It's truly something special
Gene Wolfe was just a brilliant, brilliant writer. I've loved his novels since I was young. I'm sure you will, but slowly make your way through all of his novels. They are so rewarding, so full of puzzles and surprises and joys. The New Sun series is followed by two other series, and they are all tremendous. I'll also put in a special plug for my favorite Gene Wolfe story, The Wizard Knight. Glad you're enjoying reading about Severian as much as I did many years ago.
A FELLOW WIZARD KNIGHT ENJOYER YESSSSS you are literally the first person I have ever heard mention this series. First Gene Wolfe book I ever read at age 11 and I got hooked on his books from then on. Definitely grew some neural connections in my little kid brain that I am grateful to have today. (working as a single janitor at age 30 so they didn’t do me much good so far but I’d like to think I got something out of it lol!)
Only two weeks ago after driving home from visiting family I stopped at a second hand bookshop. On the drive I was listening to a podcast with Nicholas Kotar and Richard Rollin where they talked about The Book of the New Sun. I had heard them previously talk about it but as I walked into the bookshop decided I would purposefully look to see if by chance it was there. The exact same edition as you have was there with the matching second volume. Not only that but as I continued looking through I found a collection of 10 lesser not commonly GK Chesterton works. While my wallet is a bit lighter I have had plenty of edifying reading this past fortnight. Admittedly I have found reading difficult in the past few months, which I think may have came from an excess of non-fiction works. After starting The Book of the New Sun it was a struggle to put it down. I wanted to learn and delve into this mysteriously both futuristic yet old world. It has been a fresh relief to me reading this.
As a non native english speaker, at first I was deeply disappointed at myself because I pride in dominating said language at a very advanced level. Besides, I listened TSOTT in Audiobook format, so I thought my dominion of English had just been an illusion when I heard all those strange words. It was quite fun trying to figure out how they were written in order to search for them on Google, though. I'm now relieved to know that it wasn't me lacking knowledge regarding regular contemporary English, but that Wolfe actually uses very exotic words, and most of them are out of use nowadays. I've learned a lot with these books, so I'm grateful, but if I wasn't as stubborn and curious as I am, I would have surrendered with them. Glad I didn't.
I first encountered Shadow of the Torturer in the mid-90s. Its uniquely haunting, existential, and mysterious atmosphere captivated me, leaving a lasting impact that has likely influenced my character development. Over the years, I've frequently used names like ShadowTorturer, Fuligin, Severian, Autarch and TerminusEst for my projects and online personas. I vividly recall the day scientists unveiled the darkest black color and feeling resentment that they didn't name it Fuligin. When Dark Souls was released, I felt an immediate kinship with the game and was delighted by its unexpected popularity.
You've discovered a treasure troce with Wolfe. I almost envy you that you can read his books for the first time. Though rereading him is also very satisfying
I've had both volumes sitting on my shelf since I had my first child, four more daughters & the near ubiquitous device attention deficit affect later & they still sit waiting for me - not sure i'll commit before I see them all through puberty but perhaps I may make them an ephemeral refuge from the aspects of my living reality that are tragically beyond my control.
As the father of a 2-year-old, I'm not completely divorced from your situation - and I do empathize. My reading time is limited to a very brief 30 minutes, late at night, once everyone else has fallen asleep. It is a handy ephemeral refuge if ever there was one.
Fantastic! I love this series! Happy reading brother! I recently sent the first few paragraphs of the namesake chapter to a friend and they can't wait to read it either. Gene Wolfe's prose does that.
I think reading others reviews and summaries could do it all injustice, especially the whole catholicism bit. It all warrants a multitude of readings and listenings (Jonathan Davis)
@@pothecary The Death of Doctor Island from the collection called "The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories and Other Stories" (no I didn't mess that up) is my favorite
I also recommend "The Fifth Head of Cerberus" and "Seven American Nights". There is a good collection called "The Best of Gene Wolfe" that includes these and more.
I think you would like Jack Vance, too. Which heavily influenced Wolfe. I would consider him a bit easier to read due to Wolfe's technique of describing things obscurely to impart a mystic or indefinable quality of something futuristic. You'll still need a dictionary on standby, though.
Fam my grandma’s brother in law-This Greek dude Andy Carides. Was on the Pringles engineering team lol. He’s 102 and lives a few cities down from me. Worth 100’s of millions haha
Ursula K Le Guin, Kim Stanley Robinson, John Clute, Neal Gaiman, George RR Martin and other science fiction/fantasy authors all are/were fans and admirers of Gene Wolfe. Most are not even remotely Christian.
Here is my question: As a former catholic who has left the church and really not int the 'heaven and hell' stuff, is this book preachy? I really don't need a religion lesson.
You might get Marc Aramini oj the channel for an interview/discussion. He's one of the foremost experts (hate that word) on Wolfe out there. He has a youtube channel or you can find him on the Gene Wolfe subreddit
Thank you for a very informative review. I appreciate that you immediately went to the root of this book (and series) by telling us that the author is heavily influenced by his faith. I am intrigued by his use of archaic language, but not intrigued enough to be caught in the miasma of religion. You provide a great example of Wolfe's conceit, one shared by all religious people: "...in fact to believe so is to believe in the most debased and superstitious kind of magic." These are wonderfully well-woven words; they flow well, they have meaning and cadence, and yet they are there, written blindly by an author who is a believer in superstition and magic, since all religions are superstition and all of them are myth and magic. Wolfe could write these beautiful words and, at the same time, be absolutely oblivious of the fact that the believer in debased and superstitious magic is him. Maybe, one day if someone gives me a copy, as you were fortunate to get one, I'll give it a shot. For now, pass. But I am very grateful that your precise review steered me away from this work of faith that pretends to be science fiction.
Hey man, thanks for your message. You seem analytically minded so I think you'd probably find it fascinating. It's also not all religion, in fact, it's quite imperceptible apart from a few moments.
@@pothecary Thank you for responding. My TBR list is quite long; but maybe one day I will give Wolfe the attention he probably deserves. Great content, btw.
95% of the words Wolfe uses that seem made up are real and you can look them up - what i thought was a made up title actually means something like "concubine of the giant melanesian eel god"
Just started reading Shadow of the Torturer a couple days ago... So far so good... was about to do a u turn once you mentioned catholics, no way i am getting a disappointment like Roucchio again. Wolf is not that preachy and actually writes a sensible worldview. Let me know if the christian bs comes through in the sequels
I've read this book about 10 times. I love it. My favorite series of all time.
saaaaame The Knight and The Wizard are my first Gene Wolfe books I discovered at age 11 and I’ve been a turbo nerd ever since
Been reading BOTNS since 2021. It’s certainly one of the most amazing albeit difficult work of Science fiction/fantasy ever written. I’m glad there appears to be a growing interest in Wolfe throughout the years.
The first time I read it I couldn't even tell what genre it was. Also it's pretty difficult for a non-native speaker but it has become my favorite book.
As a fellow Catholic discovering Wolfe is like lifting the veil to reality itself. Short Sun is his best work when you get there. The only two books I hold up with Wolfe are Moby Dick and Paradise Lost. Ave Maria
The terms used by Gene Wolfe are explained in the "Lexicon Urthus" by Michael Andre-Driussi. It is not just Old English, but also from other languages.
For example the term "Urth" is used to describe the earth. But Urth is also a deity of destiny from Scandinavian mythology, representing the past.
"asimi" originally means silver, but is used as silver-coin in the books.
It is amazing how much you can learn by reading the Solar Cycle.
Severian is such a treat of a character, read Jack Vance too when you finish your Wolfe
I sincerely hope that when you finish BOTNS you also read Urth of the New Sun. It’s the book that completes Severians journey, and it also happens to be the most Catholic one in the series.
(Also Wolfe’s historical time travel novel Pirate Freedom is really in conversation with BOTNS and is worth a read too)
ive been interested in reading this book, this video totally solid me
My favourite series of all time. I'm currently waiting for my folio society copy to arrive and start my third read through! Finishing long and short son series' first and I can't wait to dive in again with even more perspective. It's truly something special
Gene Wolfe was just a brilliant, brilliant writer. I've loved his novels since I was young. I'm sure you will, but slowly make your way through all of his novels. They are so rewarding, so full of puzzles and surprises and joys. The New Sun series is followed by two other series, and they are all tremendous. I'll also put in a special plug for my favorite Gene Wolfe story, The Wizard Knight. Glad you're enjoying reading about Severian as much as I did many years ago.
A FELLOW WIZARD KNIGHT ENJOYER YESSSSS you are literally the first person I have ever heard mention this series. First Gene Wolfe book I ever read at age 11 and I got hooked on his books from then on. Definitely grew some neural connections in my little kid brain that I am grateful to have today. (working as a single janitor at age 30 so they didn’t do me much good so far but I’d like to think I got something out of it lol!)
Only two weeks ago after driving home from visiting family I stopped at a second hand bookshop. On the drive I was listening to a podcast with Nicholas Kotar and Richard Rollin where they talked about The Book of the New Sun. I had heard them previously talk about it but as I walked into the bookshop decided I would purposefully look to see if by chance it was there. The exact same edition as you have was there with the matching second volume. Not only that but as I continued looking through I found a collection of 10 lesser not commonly GK Chesterton works. While my wallet is a bit lighter I have had plenty of edifying reading this past fortnight. Admittedly I have found reading difficult in the past few months, which I think may have came from an excess of non-fiction works. After starting The Book of the New Sun it was a struggle to put it down. I wanted to learn and delve into this mysteriously both futuristic yet old world. It has been a fresh relief to me reading this.
As a non native english speaker, at first I was deeply disappointed at myself because I pride in dominating said language at a very advanced level. Besides, I listened TSOTT in Audiobook format, so I thought my dominion of English had just been an illusion when I heard all those strange words. It was quite fun trying to figure out how they were written in order to search for them on Google, though.
I'm now relieved to know that it wasn't me lacking knowledge regarding regular contemporary English, but that Wolfe actually uses very exotic words, and most of them are out of use nowadays. I've learned a lot with these books, so I'm grateful, but if I wasn't as stubborn and curious as I am, I would have surrendered with them. Glad I didn't.
I first encountered Shadow of the Torturer in the mid-90s. Its uniquely haunting, existential, and mysterious atmosphere captivated me, leaving a lasting impact that has likely influenced my character development. Over the years, I've frequently used names like ShadowTorturer, Fuligin, Severian, Autarch and TerminusEst for my projects and online personas. I vividly recall the day scientists unveiled the darkest black color and feeling resentment that they didn't name it Fuligin. When Dark Souls was released, I felt an immediate kinship with the game and was delighted by its unexpected popularity.
You've discovered a treasure troce with Wolfe. I almost envy you that you can read his books for the first time. Though rereading him is also very satisfying
Wow. Another South African Gene Wolfe fan. We're growing.
South African here, we made a couple animatics based on some scenes from this book.
youtube.com/@bookofthenewsunfangroup1414?si=23tJJ0UG9-EiOsRx
@leepretorius4869 I believe an animated movie is the best way to adapt BotNS
@@johnaucamp7106 let’s fundraise to get the rights and make a short
You know with BOTLS and it’s accompanying Lexicon that may be more conducive to a Netflix animated series.
Heard about it more than thirty years ago and am about to revisit it.
I've had both volumes sitting on my shelf since I had my first child, four more daughters & the near ubiquitous device attention deficit affect later & they still sit waiting for me - not sure i'll commit before I see them all through puberty but perhaps I may make them an ephemeral refuge from the aspects of my living reality that are tragically beyond my control.
As the father of a 2-year-old, I'm not completely divorced from your situation - and I do empathize. My reading time is limited to a very brief 30 minutes, late at night, once everyone else has fallen asleep. It is a handy ephemeral refuge if ever there was one.
Severian is the Ryan Gosling meme.
Never seen that cover in the first couple seconds, cool
It's the Folio Society edition - beautiful design and illustration. :)
Fantastic! I love this series! Happy reading brother!
I recently sent the first few paragraphs of the namesake chapter to a friend and they can't wait to read it either. Gene Wolfe's prose does that.
0:50 gene wolfe also looks like the pringles logo
I think reading others reviews and summaries could do it all injustice, especially the whole catholicism bit. It all warrants a multitude of readings and listenings (Jonathan Davis)
That's a very fair point. 🙏
I love Pringles Man. His short stories are even better than BOTNS in my opinion
I will get to them eventually! Which one should I read first?
@@pothecary The Death of Doctor Island from the collection called "The Island of Doctor Death and Other Stories and Other Stories" (no I didn't mess that up) is my favorite
I also recommend "The Fifth Head of Cerberus" and "Seven American Nights". There is a good collection called "The Best of Gene Wolfe" that includes these and more.
I think you would like Jack Vance, too. Which heavily influenced Wolfe. I would consider him a bit easier to read due to Wolfe's technique of describing things obscurely to impart a mystic or indefinable quality of something futuristic. You'll still need a dictionary on standby, though.
Thank you for the tip! I've never read Vance, but I'll have to check him out. Any particular title you can recommend?
Hyperion and the fall of hyperion literally arrived today and Im so excited to read it.
I wish I could read those for the first time again. Fall of Hyperion is one of my all time favorites. I hope you enjoy them!
Read it, put it down, thought "huh this is Final Fantasy VIII"
Fam my grandma’s brother in law-This Greek dude Andy Carides. Was on the Pringles engineering team lol. He’s 102 and lives a few cities down from me. Worth 100’s of millions haha
Wow!
No no no, catholicism was part of it but you absolutely do not have to be Christian to love the book. I am a hethan pagan and love his books.
I’ve been an strong atheist since 1968, and I just LOVE the Book of the New Sun!
Truth speaks to everyone!
Did he say you need to be Christian to love these books?
Ursula K Le Guin, Kim Stanley Robinson, John Clute, Neal Gaiman, George RR Martin and other science fiction/fantasy authors all are/were fans and admirers of Gene Wolfe. Most are not even remotely Christian.
Here is my question: As a former catholic who has left the church and really not int the 'heaven and hell' stuff, is this book preachy? I really don't need a religion lesson.
It's probably the opposite of preachy, in my experience of reading it.
Not preachy at all. This is not a work designed to propagandize nonbelievers.
You might get Marc Aramini oj the channel for an interview/discussion. He's one of the foremost experts (hate that word) on Wolfe out there.
He has a youtube channel or you can find him on the Gene Wolfe subreddit
Dudes everywhere.
Thank you for a very informative review. I appreciate that you immediately went to the root of this book (and series) by telling us that the author is heavily influenced by his faith. I am intrigued by his use of archaic language, but not intrigued enough to be caught in the miasma of religion. You provide a great example of Wolfe's conceit, one shared by all religious people: "...in fact to believe so is to believe in the most debased and superstitious kind of magic." These are wonderfully well-woven words; they flow well, they have meaning and cadence, and yet they are there, written blindly by an author who is a believer in superstition and magic, since all religions are superstition and all of them are myth and magic. Wolfe could write these beautiful words and, at the same time, be absolutely oblivious of the fact that the believer in debased and superstitious magic is him.
Maybe, one day if someone gives me a copy, as you were fortunate to get one, I'll give it a shot. For now, pass. But I am very grateful that your precise review steered me away from this work of faith that pretends to be science fiction.
Hey man, thanks for your message. You seem analytically minded so I think you'd probably find it fascinating. It's also not all religion, in fact, it's quite imperceptible apart from a few moments.
@@pothecary Thank you for responding. My TBR list is quite long; but maybe one day I will give Wolfe the attention he probably deserves. Great content, btw.
Just found your channel! 🎉
goood video
I just couldn’t get past the first few chapters - am I crazy?
It's not for everyone. I might have bounced off the first few chapters too if I didn't have assurance that there was good stuff ahead.
Nope, same with me. Bored me to sleep. Tried reading it 3 times over the past few decades but could never get into it.
@sirvazo1633 yet here you are
@@mistaando9741 indeed!
Sadly, could never get beyond a third of the way into the 1st book before it put me to sleep. Just not for me, I guess.
95% of the words Wolfe uses that seem made up are real and you can look them up - what i thought was a made up title actually means something like "concubine of the giant melanesian eel god"
Just started reading Shadow of the Torturer a couple days ago... So far so good... was about to do a u turn once you mentioned catholics, no way i am getting a disappointment like Roucchio again. Wolf is not that preachy and actually writes a sensible worldview.
Let me know if the christian bs comes through in the sequels